that he did? He did more; he gave to the law all its obedience, as well as suffer all its penalties. And as the law having found him charged with sin, cursed him; so having, at the same time, found him obedient unto death, it blessed him. As the law saith,

includes eternal life, glory, and immortality, all the blessings in heaven above, and all the blessings of the earth beneath. So, having found him obedient, it pronounced upon him, and us in him, the blessings of life for evermore. And as the law to be just must curse the transgressor, so to be just it must bless and give a complete title to all its blessings to him that obeys. "Now, to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."

Mediator. As God, he is the giver of every good and perfect gift; but as the Mediator in the covenant of grace, he is a receiver from God the Father. He possessed all things as God; yet being made in the likeness of sinful men for us, he possessed nothing but what was given him by his Father. "Though he" Do this, and thou shalt live;" which was rich, for our sakes he became poor." Though a Son, he took upon him the form of a servant that works for wages; and having performed the work which his Father gave him to do, he boldly asked for glory, and obtained it; he asked for all the conditions of his covenant, and "he obtained gifts for men, that the Lord God might dwell amongst us. "Wherefore, he hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." "He hath divided him a portion with the strong." What our Lord possesses thus he receives as the head and representative of his church. As God, he could receive nothing; but as man, the Father gave him life in himself, that he might give life to us. As God, he is self-existent; but as man, he lives by the Father, even as we live by him. As God, he is not the heir of all things, but the possessor of all things. It is as man we are one with him, and joint heirs with him, for the Father hath given him all things, and we have all things in him. Now, it remains to shew when he obtained these gifts, and how he obtained them. Were they to him gifts of mere grace? or were they made over to him in consideration of his covenanted obedience?

Jesus, therefore, though a Son, worked as a servant under the law, and all the blessings of the law became to him a just debt because of his obedience. Thus, by the obedience of our adorable Jesus, we have a clearer and firmer title to all the blessings of life than if we had stood till now in all our pristine innocence; and, by him, we are redeemed to a better inheritance than that of Eden in all its glory. The Father is pleased with the obedience of angels; and if we had stood in innocence, he would have been pleased with ours; but with our Lord Jesus Christ he is well pleased; so that his heart rejoices over him with unbounded joy, and he has blessed him according to the gladness of his heart. If we had, in our own persons, fulfilled the law, that would have given us a legal and personal title to enter into life, (Matt, xix. 17); but as our obedience could only have been limited, the blessings of life would have been limited also. But Jesus being made under the law for us, his obedience secures us an everlasting title to infinite blessings, as if we had, in our own persons, magnified the law. By the blood of Jesus we not only have redemption from sin, guilt, and misery; but by it "we draw nigh to God," and "have access into the holiest of all.” Hence, we plead it for all blessings, as well as for the forgiveness of sins; knowing that all things are ours by "oaths, and promises, and blood."

As to the time when he received them, doubtless they were made over to him by deed of covenant before the foundation of the world. Then the Father blessed him as our representative "with all spiritual blessings," (Eph. i.); and he came into the actual and full possession of them when he ascended up on high. Did the Son, therefore, on his part, promise anything as a condition of his receiving these blessings? or were they to him free gifts? Doubtless, he promised "to do the Father's will;" to be "made under the law a curse for us;" and to be "obedient unto death." The covenant was conditional, and the Father blessed his Son in consideration of his obedience, a type of which we see in To conclude, it appears to me that God's Abraham: "By myself have I sworn, saith love is the moving cause of every other the Lord, for because thou hast done this blessing. The obedience of Jesus did not thing, and hast not withheld thy Son, thine cause God to love us, but it was his love and only Son, from me; that in blessing, I will sovereign pleasure that made us one with bless thee-because thou hast obeyed my Christ, and that ordained him in the fulness voice." They were not, therefore, gifts of of time to be made of a woman, made under grace to him, but gifts in consideration of his the law, to redeem us from the curse, and merits, WHICH WERE WORTHY TO BE RE-secure to us the blessings of the law. WARDED WITH SUCH BLESSINGS. Hear me And, lastly, though all things are free yet, again, I have not borrowed my words from another. The law curses the sinner, and blesses the doer of it.

Now, Jesus our Lord was made under this law; he stood as our representative; our sins were found on him; the law cursed him, and he suffered all its penalties. But is this all

gifts to us-that is, on our part we receive them without money and without price : yet, I verily believe it to be a capital, most precious and soul-supporting truth, that the least of all our mercies cost Jesus, our Saviour, "sweat, and tears, and blood.”

Houghton-le-Spring. DIXON BURN.

OUR BRITISH BAPTIST CHURCHES.

MOUNT ZION CHAPEL, CHADWELL-ST. us.

CLERKENWELL.

BROTHER BANKS. In the month of

February I sent you an account of our baptising, which had then recently taken place. You promised it should appear in April; but April came and May came, and we saw no more of it. I feel persuaded you have pleasure in publishing any cheering information respecting the interests of gospel Zion generally. I have concluded in my own mind it is forgetfulness on your part. It is our mercy, Zion's God can never forget Zion. He never forgets his purposes respecting her, and his promises as made to her in the Person of her glorious Head and Representative. His work is still going on in spite of earth and hell. God the Holy Ghost is gathering the right materials from Nature's deep quarry, and fitting them in their right places in Mercy's building; and though sin and Satan seem to be making sad havoc in professing Zion, in scattering, dividing, and sowing discord in her midst, and though error from the poisonous breath of that old serpent seems to run almost rampant in the world in our day-amidst all this, how cheering it is to have the eye of our faith and the ear of our faith kept looking and listening above to our covenant Jehovah's declaration“I will work, and who shall let it ?" He certainly has been working salvation in our midst as a little corner of his beloved church ever since we have been in existence.

We were thirty-four in number when we commenced, and now we number more than two hundred members. The congregaWe have had tion is a good and steady one. our trials, our fears, and discouragements. Satan has been round and round the fold many times during the five years, and too successful has he been with respect to some of whom we hoped well; but the Good Shepherd has preserved the fold; Omnipotence has been our shield; the gospel has been faithfully and fully proclaimed, and "Ebehitherto we can say and must say,

nezer."

To him must be all the glory. While the Great Peace Maker is with us, and sways his gracious sceptre in our midst, we do not much fear but all will be well; but if he withdraw his gracious restraint, and the Holy Ghost suspends his soul-uniting influences, we painfully know and daily feel there is combustible material enough within soon to ignite, explode, and scatter us like other

churches.

O, for more of that experience which is produced under the droppings of Calvary! Then into the dust we all should lie, and willingly join together in crowning our worthy and glorious Lord, Lord of all.

POPLAR.

THE second anniversary of Zoar Baptist Chapel, William Street, Poplar, was held on Sunday, May 31st: brother Banks preached in the morning from Psalm xlv. 4; the majesty of the Person, work, offices, and relationship The last Lord's-day in May, our dear pas- of Zion's King were largely and blessedly detor, Mr. Hazelton, again baptised (in the pre-clared. Brother Chivers in the afternoon from sence of a large congregation) six believers, Rev. iii. 21. The pastor, Mr. Bowles, in the and on the following Lord's-day, June 7th, evening from Micha iv. 4-7. On the followreceived them, with seven others, into church ing Tuesday, brother Wells preached from fellowship. We have amongst the number a Deut. iv. 4; wherein he shewed what it was goodly few of hoary-headed pilgrims, who to cleave unto the Lord; also, what it was not have paced this vale of tears and conflicted to cleave unto him; who they were that did with many a foe, for forty and fifty years. cleave unto him; and where it is that we canThese have borne a cheering testimony to not cleave unto him, &c. It was a great exthe truth being blest to their souls' edifica. position of vital godliness. A large number tion and comfort, and several young plants sat down to tea; so many were present that have been brought in, which we hope, through several were obliged to be accomodated in the the nurturing hand of our Heavenly Hus-chapel yard; and when the public meeting bandman, will stand fast and firm as monuments of sovereign grace, and ornaments to grace, in the garden of God below, when more aged saints, matured by grace, are transplanted to stand for ever in the sunny regions of eternal Paradise above. One of our sisters has very recently passed the flood, and many are waiting at the brink for the summons to go.

Five years and more have now rolled their eventful round since we joined handin-hand as a church, to meet together and walk together in gospel union for mutual edification and the glory of God, since which time, and especially since our pastor's settlement in June, 1852, now five years, the Lord has been continuing and steadily increasing

commenced, many could not gain admittance, Mr. R. Bowles presided, and spoke of the peace and prosperity they were enjoying both in the church and congregation; God had blessed them, and were blessing them, and owning the proclamation of his truth. Brother Wells then spoke upon the subject of "Divine Foreknowledge." He said that the Divine foreknowledge of God embraced every event, both in the church and the world: the entrance of sin; the fall of man; hell's defeat and heaven's triumph; all were foreknown to him who from everlasting had chosen a people to shew forth his praises. Brother Banks was to have spoken upon "Sovereign Predestination." But preaching and a church meeting at his own place prevented; he expressed his regret

STEPNEY.-Mr. R. Bowles baptized two female and one male at Cave Adullam Chapel, (lent for the occasion) on Wednesday evening, June 2nd, 1857. Mr. B. preached from Luke xx. 4: and proved, to an attentive congregation, the heavenly authority for baptism: that it had heaven's approbation resting upon it; and while there was a gospel church on earth baptism, by immersion, must, of necessity, be administered. The candidates were then personally addressed; publicly baptized in the name of the Trinity; and on the following Lord's day were received into the church. Others are hovering about our walls, desirous to follow in the footsteps of the flock. The Lord is increasing us with those who have an appetite for "the hidden manna."

THE MARTYRS' VALLEY:

at not being able to continue with us, and prevailed upon brother Wells to give us a few thoughts on the subject: who proved that God decreed everything that was good: permitted every thing that was evil; but was by no means the author of sin. That if it was possible to make God the author of sin, it would make him one with sin, and one with the devil and hereby rob him of his essential holiness. Brother S. Cozens then spoke on "Effectual Calling;" and after having described the nature of the "call," he illustrated the effectuality in his own case; when God called him by his grace, he strove by swearing, drinking, and plunging into sin, to stifle the same; but by effectual, all-conquering grace, the rebel was brought down, and made willing in the day of his power." (See note.) Brother Chivers spoke upon "Heavenly Conformity." The subject had evidently warmed his heart, and fired his tongue. He THE ANCIENT BAPTIST CAUSE AT AMERSHAM. shewed us where this conformity was to be To gospel antiquarians, one of the most infound; and that predestination secures conformity to the heavenly image. Brother Pal-teresting spots in our little isle, is Amersham, in Bucks. Mr. W. Jefferys, the original mer (of Homerton,) next addressed the meet- editor and proprietor of The Pot of Manna, ing on "Complete Redemption;" giving us is now the minister of what is called "The the various and the legitimate meaning of the Old Meeting-House." In a note, he says:term redemption; and that its completeness"I may add, that the people had been four or perfection consisted in the end being secured years without a pastor when I came here and by the means; the debt paid; the law found (in Feb., 1855), a few people assemhonoured; justice satisfied; the church exon-bling in a dilapidated place of worship. erated; the claims of truth and equity established. That a redemption was effected by the Church's Head for the church, and for the church only. (We regret that we cannot give more of this interesting speech.) Mr. Butterfield spoke on "Certain Glorification." His remarks were to the point, and delivered with

decision.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow" was sung. Brother Fermin engaged in prayer; and this happy meeting terminated.

NOTE.-In the course of brother Cozens's observations, he remarked, "That man was placed in a medium state, between a palace and a dungeon; and that the palace might be secured and the dungeon avoided; and that if the ungodly were lost it was their own fault." The chairman seeking an explanation, asked if this was his real sentiment, he replied in the affirmative, and that his Scripture for it was Hosea xiii. 9, "Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help." The above remark has caused considerable excitement; several who were at the meeting have enquired, "What did Mr. Cozens mean, and how could he make it lay straight with effectual calling ?" And for my part, I have been deeply afflicted by it in my own soul, coming from a brother who in his own soul knows the power of Divine truth. Now if we admit this we lay aside, 1st, the eternal purpose of God the Father, as recorded in Romans ix. xi., xii., xiii.; 2nd, the infinite perfection of the Saviour's work, as in Hebrews ix. and xii.; also the gracious and efficacious operations of God the Holy Ghost, as in Psalm ex. 3, and a multitude of other ScripR. BOWLES.

tures.

[We feel certain brother Cozens will correct this misunderstanding.-ED.]

AND

In

the autumn of 1855, the chapel was closed a short time for repairs, when nearly £100 was expended, making it, as it has been often said, the prettiest chapel in Buckinghamshire. The building is now out of debt, and is full of people. I have not only the cordial affections of each one of my members, but have not a disaffected person in the congregation. We are in perfect peace, having much outside contempt and persecution; but being bound together in the unity of the Spirit, are able to bear the world's enmity, according to the grace of God which is given unto us."

A brief but beautiful record of the fiery trials and holy triumphs which have been associated with the progress of the gospel in this land, may be found in the following published paragraphs:

"In the Vale of Amersham took place some of the earliest struggles of Protestant freedom with Papal tyranny. The lamp of truth in the Parish Church had long twinkled but faintly through the long dark shadows of superstition and evil, when the Lollards (Baptists) came among us, and streaked the firmamental darkness with bright lines of promise. Afterward, in 1495, Wickliffe visited Amersham, but smoke and vapour was still issuing from the Papal gates. The Angel of Liberty paused-spoke-and many believed! These clustered, and formed Churches of the "children of the light and of the day." God had said, "Let there be light." The followers of Wickliffe became numerous, and terrible to the reigning powers of darkness, while the blood of their martyrs, though licked up by the dogs, was looked upon by heaven-reading in purple and indelible lines the strong cries and tears of fathers on behalf of their enslaved

May our ministers and churches increasingly pray, preach, and persevere, in the truth as it is in Jesus, that our bodies, souls, and spirits, may be scanctified to his service, praise, and glory, so praise, a sinner saved and blessed, THOMAS POOOK.

Ipswich, June 13, 1857.

children. Then John Knox, the dissenting | Reformer, rose up like a new star, and came and stood over Amersham, where the darkness was our forefathers flocked to hear him, and the spirit of civil and religious liberty found a lively place in the hearts of many. The Old Meeting House, Amersham, was built A.D. 1677; wherein from time to time have assembled the children of those mighty men whose spirit, destined from the first to triumph, ORDINATION OF MR. JOHN THURSTON now pervades Britain-has made her great, glorious, and free, and still waits and watches to bless the world. This old chapel may justly be considered a "Tabernacle of Witness," monumental to the youth of a great spirit.

The "Local Directory" says:— "Amersham, or Agmondesham, called in Doomsday Book, Elmodesham, is-A market town in the Hundred and Deanery of Burnham. It is situated in a valley, between wooded and lofty hills, and consists of one main street intersected by shorter ones. It is also remarkable as a spot consecrated by the blood of martyrs, and its inhabitants appear to have been peculiarly the objects of popish persecution in the reigns of Henry V., Henry VII., and Mary. Among others James Morden, Thomas Bernard, and William Tylesworth were burnt here; the daughter of the latter being compelled to light his funerl pile. Tradition tells of a spot 24 yards in circumference, which, whether fallow or in corn, discovers by its barrenness, the place of matrydom. The names of localities in this district such as Gore Hill, Dead Man's Dean (or Battom), point it out as a scene of conflict, when the Danes laid waste the kingdom of Mercia.

[The singular paper on the baptising service conducted by Mr. Jefferys at New-lane, we hope to notice in another number.-ED.]

IPSWICH.

On Lord's-day, June 7th, eight persons were baptized in Bethesda Chapel, Ipswich; ten were expected; but one "was not," for three days after he had made, to the messengers of the Church, one of the most blessed testimonies of the work of God upon his soul, on rising early from his bed, was seized with a fit, and in a few minutes joined the church triumphant; he was the beloved brother of Mr. Large, minister of Sutton, in Suffolk. The other friend did not appear before the Church. This was truly a solemn season, a thronged congregation, listented with marked attention to remarks made from 1 Peter iii. 20, 21. After which the first candidate kneeled down at the head of the baptistry, acknowledged her own vileness and unworthiness, praising God for his grace and mercy, in bringing her, and prayed to the Lord to bless and prosper their souls every way, to the glory of his great and holy name. How much have we to be thankful for our town abounds with Puseyism, aided by some of the Clergy, and by a number of the sisters of mercy, who are busy enough proselyting all they can, by gifts, and promises, to their popish mummeries. Yet we, through grace, are preserved in, and by the truth of our blessed God, to come out from her sins, and to escape her impending plagues.

AT HALSTED, ESSEX.

DEAR BROTHER.-I send you a brief account of the ordination of our dear brother James Thurston, at Providence chapel, Halsted, Essex.

These interesting services took place at Providence, on Thursday, 12th May, 1857, in the presence of three crowded congregations. The morning service was began by singing; and our aged brother, Richard Pedington, of Colchester, read the Scriptures and offered up prayer for a divine and special blessing to attend the services of the day. Brother Collins, of Colchester, then stated the nature of a gospel church, taking for his text, "and the Lord added to the church," &c. He then called upon the senior deacon to give a conscise statement of the leadings of Divine Providence relative to brother Thurston's coming to Halsted; he spoke of the dear Lord's mercy and goodness in directing brother Thurston's coming among us as a church and people, and of the Divine blessing that accompanies the word spoken from time to time by our beloved pastor. Though our brother's statement was brief, yet it was solemn and savoury.

Brother Collins then called upon brother Thurston to give a statement of the Lord's dealings with his soul, from his call by grace to his call to the ministry. He then stood count of the Lord's dealing with him. Brother up, and gave a most blessed and savoury acCollins then asked him to give a statement of the doctrines he believed and purposed to proclaim in his ministry, to which brother Thurston replied very fully, and witnessed a good confession before many witnesses.

Brethren Felton, and Brocklehurst, and Box, gave the right hand of fellowship to brother Thurston, and to the senior deacon. Mr. Collins requested the church to signify their approval and approbation of brother Thurston's taking the pastorate over them, which they did, not only by shew of hands, but there is every reason to believe by every heart.

In the afternoon brother Box (then supplying at Sible Hedingham) read, and offered up the ordination prayer. Brother Brochlehurst (Mr. Thurston's late pastor) gave a very solemn, affectionate, and seasonable charge from 1 Tim. i. 11.

In the evening brother Felton, of Ipswich, preached to the church and congregation a most heart-searching, God-glorifying, Christexalting sermon from Phil, ii. 29.

Thus ended a day at Providence never to be forgotten; it closed with a grateful recollection that the Great Head of the Church had

THE WEST OF ENGLAND CHURCHES. still reside in Plymouth, and we hope THE